Corporate Intelligence

An interesting article via The Dominion on the potential use of corporations as fronts and intelligence assets for security services.

The Afghan Connection

It is common knowledge by now that Afghanistan is synonymous with Opium and Heroin. It is also a region rich with small arms. With Canadian Forces (CF) personnel stationed in such a volatile region, it is the job of the Canadian Forces Military Police to make sure that Canadian bases and personnel in Kandahar and Canada don't become hubs of an illicit trade in these commodities (a problem reminiscent of the US experience in South-East Asia).

With all the focus on drugs and weapons, there is the risk that another illicit trade might be ignored. That is the trade in Afghan artifacts. As shown in Duncan Kinder's blog, this is an often ignored, but important part of the underground economy. I wonder how much attention this issue is getting from the MPs?

Radical Reconsiderations on Organized Crime

It is late, so my thoughts are a little disorganized. However, I thought I would quickly through out this idea to see how well it is received (if at all).

I have been reading excerpts from Michel Woodiwiss' Organized Crime and American Power and was struck by his definition of Organized Crime:

"organized crime is systematic criminal activity for money or power."

Using that definition, Woodiwiss is able to identify many corporate, government, and gangster activities as being "organized crime." Although I have yet to thoroughly review the literature on this issue, I must agree with him. For too long, many area experts have thought of terrorism, gangsterism, fraud, espionage, subversion, piracy, and corruption as being separate (and therefore, "special") issues. Perhaps it is time to look at these issues as simply being trades or tools of the same overall problem: crime committed by organizations for money or power.

More on this later.

The Rise of Honour Killings in North America

The purpose of analytical-driven public security (or, Intelligence-Led Policing) is to identify future trends in crime and public disorder and help prepare various institutions and personnel for the challenges that might lie ahead.

By way of Fabius Maximus and Rob Tripp we learn of a disturbing crime that is being practiced in North America: "honour" killings.

Because I do not have the statistical data on hand, I am unable to properly analyze this matter. However, some quick thoughts are in order:

1) As Canada's population ages and the labour force shrinks,we will become increasingly dependent on immigration to supplant our aging population.
2) More of our foreign-born population will come from cultures that are firmly outside of the "European" tradition and might adhere to certain cultural practices that native-born citizens will object to. Honour killing is perhaps the most extreme form of this.
3) What is needed is for public security and welfare officials to have a deep understanding (i.e., cultural intelligence) of the new cultures that have arrived on our shores. This will be a difficult task: resources are scarce and security "consultants" who claim expertise in matters of cultural/religious-based crimes are often quacks.

Currently, governments in both Canada and the Netherlands have been adopting tougher naturalization policies aimed at preparing immigrants for life in liberal society. How effective this will be has yet to be seen.

The Snow Tigers: Future Prospects for the LTTE in Canada

With the conclusion of the civil war in Sri Lanka, one must wonder what will become of the remnants of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam in Canada (the "Snow Tigers"). I believe a number of scenarios are possible:

1) continuation of the struggle in Canada

This can take many forms, from continued fund-raising efforts (sending funds from Canada to help finance LTTE activities abroad), political activism in Canada to ensure public exposure to the issues facing Tamils in Sri Lanka, attacks on Sri Lankan targets within Canada (terrorism), and inter-communal violence (supporting tensions between Tamil and Sinhalese communities in Canada).

2) Reorganization into an organized crime syndicate

Canadian security services have long alleged that the LTTE in Canada has engaged in organized crime to fund its activities. With the main purpose of the organization lost and most of the leadership in Sri Lanka dispersed or neutralized, there is the possibility that the Snow Tigers will cease to send funds over-seas and will instead enrich themselves. Since the infrastructure for this activity is already in place, it only a matter of a change in attitude before this occurs. By following this path, the Snow Tigers be following in the foot-steps of the Mafia and Triads -- patriotic sects that turned to crime once their original purpose had been fulfilled or lost.

3) Reorganization into a political-community activist entity.

Basically, this scenario envisions that the Canadian LTTE will morph into something like the Black Panther Party or American Indian Movement. Political militancy, community activism, and illicit fundraising will continue, but will lessen and the energy and funds of the organization directed toward improving the Canadian Tamil community.

4) Splintering and dissolution

With the cause lost in Sri Lanka, many Snow Tigers could opt to quit the fight and integrate back into civil society.


It is difficult to say which course the Snow Tigers will take. The next few years will be crucial in determining which direction the organization will decide upon.